Think about this for a second: If you were in an accident and a paramedic was trying to reach a loved one on your cell phone, how could they tell who to call? Obviously, they wouldn’t know Ellen is your wife or Sara is your daughter. So after the British tube bombings, British paramedic launched a nationwide campaign to have people add “ICE” to their phone’s phonebooks. ICE means “in case of emergency.” In the words of the Brits, this is “brilliant.”

Here in the colonies, the concept is being spread by the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics. You can start by using ICE1 for your spouse, ICE2 for a parent, ICE3 for a child, etc. And make sure they know if you have any medical conditions, allergies or what medications are essential to your daily health.